Coming off a string of disappointing results, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is done quietly absorbing criticism.
In his most detailed public comments since the team’s recent struggles intensified, Redick openly challenged the notion that his squad’s issues are uniquely damning, insisting it’s simply the nature of being the Lakers that amplifies every setback.
Speaking to reporters following Thursday night’s 113-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Redick defended his players and coaching staff, arguing that the Lakers‘ defeats naturally attract more intense attention than those of other teams.
“Our losses are louder than other teams because we’re the Lakers and because of the way we lose,” Redick said, according to accounts of his remarks.
“You get this deep into the season, and tonight was a one-possession clutch game, and now we’ve lost a few of those. But we’ve been great, for the most part, in the clutch all year.”
He continued by framing recent adversity as part of the normal ebbs and flows of a grueling NBA season, stressing the effort he saw from his players despite the outcome.
“Basketball is a game of mistakes, and we made mistakes. I make mistakes… Grayson Allen kicked our butt,” Redick said, emphasizing that blame isn’t exclusive to one side of the game.
Redick‘s comments come as the Lakers (currently battling through a slide that included three straight losses) navigate a tougher stretch of the schedule than the one that produced their early-season surge.
Despite a promising 197 start, the Purple and Gold entered a period where inconsistent offense and defensive lapses have drawn headlines and fan ire.
With stars like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves on the roster, expectations were sky high, and public scrutiny has only grown sharper as results waver.
However, this isn’t the first time Redick has found himself defending his coaching approach or his team.
Analysts and commentators have previously weighed in on his handling of personnel and tactics, at times sharply criticizing his public approach to accountability, including high-profile rants following losses where he promised “uncomfortable” practices if things didn’t change.
Lakers under the microscope
Redick‘s remarks point to the growing tension playing out around one of the NBA’s most scrutinized franchises.
Some former players and pundits have openly questioned whether Redick‘s tendency to air frustrations publicly does more harm than good.
Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins, for instance, told broadcasters in December that Redick “got to do better as well” in how he handles criticism and accountability.
Yet not all voices are critical. Lakers legend Pat Riley recently offered a far more supportive view of Redick‘s leadership, praising his toughness and belief in the roster during a public event celebrating Riley‘s legacy with the franchise.
Riley called Redick “a fiery guy” and echoed confidence in his ability to guide Los Angeles forward.
Redick himself acknowledged the unique weight of Lakers losses, insisting that last night’s disappointment was no indication of a lack of effort or fight. “You’re not gonna avoid adversity… I thought our guys responded tonight,” he said.
Read the full article here
